EN
|
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN
COMMUNITIES |
Brussels, 11.07.2001
COM(2001)
COMMUNICATION
FROM
THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
ON AN OPEN
METHOD OF COORDINATION FOR
THE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The
Treaty of Amsterdam established Community competence in the areas of migration
and asylum. The European Council,
meeting in Tampere in October 1999, called for the development of a common EU
asylum and migration policy to include four main elements: partnership with
countries of origin; a common European asylum system which should lead in the
longer term to a common asylum procedure and a uniform status for those granted
asylum; fair treatment of third country nationals and the more efficient
management of migration flows. 1 Considerable progress has already been made towards the
development of the comprehensive approach put forward at this meeting.
In
its “Communication on a Community Immigration Policy” (COM(2000)757) the Commission set out its ideas for a new
approach to the management of migration flows and in particular for a common
policy on admission for economic reasons. The success of such a policy depends
on effective co-ordination by all
those concerned and on the adoption and implementation of new measures, as
appropriate at both Community and Member State levels. This must provide not only for an
adequate response to immediate short-term needs but must also enable all those
involved to place their actions in a medium to long-term framework.
At
the heart of this policy will be a common legislative framework, the basis of
which has already been agreed by the Member States (Article 63 of the Treaty of
Amsterdam). According to the
detailed programme established in Tampere and set out in the “Scoreboard
to review progress on the creation of an area of ‘Freedom, Security and
Justice’ in the European Union” 2, the Commission has already made proposals in a number of
areas which provide the first elements of this framework which will underpin
the common asylum and migration policy in the four areas identified in Tampere
and which should all be in place, according to the agreed timetable, by 2004.
In
the field of legal immigration a draft directive on family reunification is
under discussion in the Council 3. Proposals are being prepared by the Commission on the
admission of third country nationals.
The first of these is a Draft Directive, which is being presented jointly
with this Communication, on the admission of third country nationals for
economic purposes. 4 Once adopted this directive will provide for common
conditions for the admission and residence of workers from third countries,
which will apply in the Member States.
It will be followed by draft directives on the admission of third
country nationals for study and vocational training and on admission for the
purpose of unpaid activities.
Progress
has also been made with the establishment of a legal framework to ensure the
fair treatment of third country nationals legally resident in the EU. Legislation has been adopted to promote
equal treatment irrespective of racial or ethnic origin and to combat racism
and discrimination 5 and proposals for a directive concerning the status of
third country nationals who are long-term residents have also been adopted by
the Commission 6. This
legislation will provide, for the first time, as requested by the European
Council in Tampere, a common status for long-term resident third country
nationals .
With
respect to illegal migration and the fight against smuggling and trafficking,
Council Directives s7, on
harmonising financial penalties imposed on carriers transporting into the
Member States third country nationals lacking the documents necessary for
admission 8 and on strengthening the penal framework to prevent the
facilitation of unauthorised entry and residence of third country nationals 9. In addition a Commission Communication
on a common fight against illegal immigration, which will set out a
wide-ranging action plan to co-ordinate and reinforce actions in this area, is
currently being prepared. This
will be followed by a Commission Communication on a Community Return Policy.
In
the conclusions of the Communication on a Community Immigration Policy, the
Commission proposed that, in view of the multi-dimensional aspects of migratory
phenomena the large number of different actors involved in migration management
and the continuing responsibility of Member States for the implementation of
migration policy, an open procedure for co-ordination of policy at Community
level should be established.
The
purpose of this present Communication is to set out proposals for the
adaptation of the open method of co-ordination to the field of migration
policy. It is thus an additional
contribution from the Commission to the on-going debate on the development of
migration policy for the Union which will be further enriched by the two new
Communications which the Commission is now preparing on the fight against
illegal immigration and on return policy.
It is also to be examined in the context of existing Community
initiatives in the field of the mobility of workers, such as the
Commission’ s Communication on a Strategy for mobility in the European
Research Area10, and in the follow-up of the High Level Task Force on Skills and
Mobility. This Communicati on
is designed, in particular, to provide an input to the European Conference on
Migration to be organised by the Presidency
on 16-17 October 2001. This itself is a preparation for the discussions to
assess progress in the creation of an area of freedom, security and justice,
which will take place at the European Council in Laeken in December 2001.
APPLYING THE OPEN METHOD
OF COORDINATION TO IMMIGRATION POLICY
There
are a number of reasons why the Commission considers that the adoption ofan
open method of coordination would be the most appropriate way to support the
development of the Community immigration policy. Prior to 1999 this was an area which had been dealt with largely as an inter-governmental
matter. The Amsterdam Treaty (Title
IV of the Treaty and Article 63 in particular) transferred competence from the
EU’s third to its first pillar (albeit all of the first pillar procedures
are not yet applicable).
Within
this framework, Member States remain responsible for a number of significant
issues particularly with respect to the admission of economic migrants and for
developing and implementing
integration policy. Immigration
also raises many sensitive and far-reaching issues which directly affect civil
society which need to be discussed openly, at both national and European
levels, in order to reach a consensus on policy positions. At the same time,
the international nature of migration flows and the inter-connection between
different aspects of migration policy necessitate a procedure by which progress
in realising the common European objectives can be evaluated and the objectives
adapted as necessary. The use of an open method of co-ordination, specifically
adapted to the immigration field , and as a complement to the legislative framework, will provide
the necessary policy mix to achieve a
gradual approach to the development of an EU policy, based, in a first stage at
least, on the identification and development of common objectives to which it is
agreed that a European response is necessary. It is proposed that this method should be implemented for an
initial period of six years to correspond to cover the period on which the
first evaluation of the application of the Directive on the conditions of entry
and residence of third country nationals for the purpose of paid employment and
self-employed activities must be made.
The
Treaty sets out clear guidance on the measures to which priority importance
must be attached, particularly during the first five years after its entry into
force and the Commission is advancing rapidly with the presentation of the
legislative instruments called for.
However, the principle of subsidiarity, which applies to all aspects of
the Union’s action, is of particular relevance to the creation of an area
of freedom, security and justice as is the need for solidarity among and
between Member States and the European institutions in facing the transnational
challenges presented by migration movements.
The
European Council at its meeting in Tampere set the political guidelines and
some concrete objectives for the development of a common EU policy within the
key areas identified, namely:
A
comprehensive approach with respect to partnership with countries of origin which addresses political, human rights and development
issues in countries and regions of origin and transit;
A
common European asylum system based on the
full and inclusive application of the Geneva Convention;
A
vigorous integration policy to ensure fair treatment of third country
nationals aimed at granting them rights and obligations comparable to
those of EU citizens; and
Measures
to ensure the more efficient management of migration flows based on closer co-operation between Member States and
with countries of origin and transit
The
open coordination method will support and complement the Community legislation
called for in the Treaty and will provide a framework for reviewing with the
Member States the implementation of these legal instruments. With respect to
the admission of economic migrants, for example, national measures will be
adopted by the Member States taking account of the criteria set out in the
directive. These will inter
alia concern the number of migrants to be
admitted over a particular time period, the establishment of horizontal
assessment programmes, determination of the duration of residence permits
issued under the directive and other matters which must be notified to the
Commission. Procedures are needed,
therefore, to ensure coherence and the use of common standards in the practical
application of Community legislation in this field and to facilitate the
assessment of its impact as key elements
in the Community immigration policy.
In
addition there are a number of wider issues where the Commission believes that
it will be useful to discuss with respect to the common legislation which will
help to evaluate their efficacity and identify practice which might be useful
in other national situations.
These could include the criteria for the establishment of horizontal
assessment programmes and the conditions under which they are implemented, the
mechanisms put in place in each Member State to involve the social partners in
the evaluation of economic need for third country nationals, comparison of
recruitment procedures particularly in countries of origin and whether closer
co-operation between Member States would be useful. This should be
carried out in full compliance with the provisions of the Treaty and in
particular of its title VIII on Employment.
The
Commission intends to play a full part in the implementation of the open
co-ordination method. It will
continue to develop the legislative programme agreed in Tampere by ensuring
that all the relevant proposals are presented by 2004 according to the
timetable set out in the Scoreboard. At the same time, as a complement to the
establishment of the legislative framework, the Commission will support the
implementation of the open co-ordination method by presenting proposals for
European guidelines, ensuring co-ordination of national policies, the exchange
of best practice and evaluation of the impact of the Community policy, as well
as through regular consultations with third countries concerned.
EUROPEAN GUIDELINES ON IMMIGRATION
The
key element of the open co-ordination method is the adoption by the Council of
multiannual guidelines for the Union accompanied by specific timetables for
achieving the goals which they set in the short, medium and long term. These guidelines will then be translated
into national policy by the setting of specific targets, which take into
account national and regional differences. Within the framework of the mandate
agreed by the European Council in Tampere and in the light of the proposals put
forward by the Commission in its Communication on a Community Immigration
Policy, the Commission proposes that guidelines be established initially in the
following areas: management of migration flows; admission of economic migrants;
partnership with third countries and the integration of third country
nationals. The first guidelines
should be adopted by the Council in 2002 and they could be revised on an annual
basis as necessary within the framework of the open co-ordination mechanism.
The availability of comparable statistics is of crucial
importance for the effective monitoring and evaluation of the common
immigration policy. The Commission staff working paper on the exchange of
statistical information in the field of asylum and migration 11
recommends the establishment of a collection of policy-relevant Community
statistics on legal migration for this purpose. At present, Eurostat undertakes
a collection of migration data within the framework of its work on demography.
Whilst the data in this collection provide information about demographic
characteristics of persons intending to enter and reside in the EU, they do not
give the reasons for migration nor its duration. Moreover, the collection
varies greatly between Member States in terms of sources, definitions and coverage,
while the data are collected on an annual basis only. The Commission has
commissioned a study on the availability in Member States of statistics on the
legal entry and stay of third country nationals with a view to setting up a
monthly collection of statistics on legal entry. Given its importance for a common immigration policy, this
work will constitute one of the key actions in the Action Plan requested by the
Council Conclusions regarding Common analysis and the improved exchange of
statistics on asylum and migration.12It will be important that Member
States support fully this Action Plan.
Suggestions
are given below as to the issues, which these guidelines might address. Each year overall European targets
could be agreed and within this framework Member States would fix their own
national objectives.
Management of migration flows
The
interaction of the different facets of migration policy - humanitarian, economic, illegal
migration and trafficking - and the need to deal separately with each one while
taking account of the linkages between them, means that measures are needed to
promote co-operation both within and between Member States and with third
countries and to facilitate exchange of experience and know-how. Given the importance of migration as a
factor influencing the demographic situation in the EU, appropriate procedures
will have to be established to ensure linkages with policy-making in other
areas notably in the economic and social field.
Guideline
1: Developing a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to migration management
at national level by ensuring that:
Due
account is taken of the linkages and interactions between different categories
of migration flows: persons admitted for humanitarian reasons, for employment
or self employment, for study or training, or as tourists or for other
non-remunerative purposes. This
could include evaluation by the competent bodies of the effects opening up
economic migration may have on asylum applications and illegal migration; the
relationship between strategies to combat undeclared work and migratory
pressures; balancing resources needed to integrate migrants against their
contribution to economic and social development. It should also consider
coherence with foreign and development policies.
Member
States give their full support to improving the on-going work on the collection
and analysis of statistics on migration in order to implement the Action Plan
to be adopted by the Council.
Guideline
2: Improving information available on legal possibilities for admission to the
EU and on the consequences of using illegal channels in particular by:
Developing
information services in third countries on legal ways of obtaining admission to
the EU for nationals of those third
countries, including information on procedures for applications for residence
and work permits e.g. through the establishment of websites, information
offices, special publicity measures.
Promoting
co-operation and exchange of information between consular services of Member
States in countries of origin, in particular with respect to visa policy, with
a view to achieving greater efficiency, transparency and coherence between
Member States in dealing with applications for admission to the EU.
Developing,
in co-operation with third countries, awareness campaigns on the risks of being
a victim of smuggling and trafficking.
Guideline
3: Reinforcing the fight against illegal immigration, smuggling and trafficking
by supporting the following measures:
Promoting
an approach based on a proper coherence and balance between humanitarian
responsibilities, lawful immigration and the fight against criminal smuggling
and trafficking networks.
Initiating
measures to keep track of illegal movements from countries and regions of
origin via transit countries to destination countries.
Based
on existing and future EU legislation, a
Promoting
the practical implementation of pre-frontier co-operation and other measures
and enhancing controls at the external borders of the Union in the framework of
commonly agreed norms and standards.
Admission
of economic migrants
As
a response to growing labour shortages, a number of Member States are now
actively recruiting economic migrants including high-skilled workers, as for
example, researchers and academic specialists. In the context of an ageing and declining population, the
Commission believes that reviewing the use of legal channels for the admission
of third country nationals to meet labour market needs is necessary while being
aware of the potentially damaging impact on countries of origin of the brain
drain that this may encourage. For
these reasons it is convinced that the admission of migrants for economic
purposes should, as far as possible, be
done in partnership with the countries of origin and within the framework of
the European employment strategy and in a transparent and coherent way based on
the procedures set out in the proposed Community legislation on the admission
of third country nationals for the purpose of taking up employment13. While this legislation sets out the
procedures and the conditions by which third country nationals should be
admitted to the labour market it does not include quantitative targets or
quotas. Member States continue
to be responsible for the selection of economic migrants and for deciding how
many are needed to meet national requirements. This entails that the responsibility for dealing with the
labour market aspects of immigration should lie with the bodies responsible for
the implementation of the European employment strategy at both Member State and
Community levels.
In
addition the Commission believes that a more open admissions policy should be
accompanied by additional measures to eliminate undeclared work which itself
encourages illegal migration, smuggling and trafficking.
Guideline
4: Establishing a coherent and transparent policy and procedures for opening
the labour market to third country nationals within the framework of the
European employment strategy. Member States will need to ensure that:
The
procedures in place to implement the European employment strategy are suitable
to deal with the contribution which migrants can make to the labour
market. The changes which might be
required to that effect should be decided in consultation with the social
partners, national, regional and local authorities, non-governmental
organisations, migrants associations and other relevant organisations. In this
respect, the capacity and resources available for the reception and integration
of new arrivals and the situation of third country nationals already residing
in the Member State concerned e.g. persons admitted under family reunion,
persons granted temporary forms of protection etc. should be borne in mind.
National
legislation is in place or adopted which provides for clear and transparent
procedures for selection of applications from third country nationals for entry
to the labour market under the different categories established.
Measures
are adopted to ensure compliance with the obligation of notification to the
Commission, s14, so as to provide for an exchange of views which may lead to
complementary action within the context of the Community immigration policy.
There
is full compliance with national and Community legislation on the employment of
third country nationals notably with regard to the fight against undeclared work.
Special
attention is given to the situation and needs of migrant women who form an
increasing proportion of migrants seeking admission to the EU to take up
employment.
Partnership with third countries
The
EU favours a partnership approach in its relations with third countries The development of the comprehensive
approach to migration issues, put forward by the European Council in Tampere, involves the inclusion of human rights
and development issues in countries and regions of origin and transit. In order to promote co-operation with
third countries with regard to migratory flows within the framework of a
structured and coherent dialogue, the European Council has recommended that a
partnership approach should be developed at both national and European
levels. In a first stage both
sides must identify the main areas on which this dialogue should be focussed
and the most effective ways of developing it in the framework of existing and future partnership agreements and fora
to ensure a comprehensive approach to migration issues.
Guideline
5: Integrating migration issues into relations with third countries, and in
particular with countries of origin, inter alia by:
Taking
into account the migration dimension on the third country concerned when
planning and implementing development and cooperation programmes, inter alia with respect to
education and training and ensuring equal opportunities for women and
men.
Supporting
measures to maximise the positive impact of migration as a factor for
development for the country of origin (e.g. the impact of financial transfers
from nationals living abroad) while minimising the negative effects (in
particular the brain drain).
Seeking ways to support patterns of mobility between EU
Member States and third countries so as to encourage migrants to maintain and
develop their links with their countries of origin15. Among the areas which could be examined are:
Reviewing
legislation which restricts the possibility for migrants to move freely between
their country of residence and their country of origin;
Encouraging
emigrants to take an interest in development projects, business and training
ventures in their countries of origin;
Financial
and other support, including the provision of venture capital, to assist
returning migrants to re-settle in their countries of origin.
Supporting
Supporting
third countries efforts to manage migratory flows and to develop legislation
and structures in line with international standards.
Supporting
measures to help the social and economic re-integration of victims of smuggling
and/or trafficking in their country of origin.
Integration of third country nationals
The
importance of successfully integrating third country nationals into society was
stressed by the European Council in Tampere. Given the multi-dimensional nature of integration policies
and the extent to which different sections of society are involved in their
implementation this is a major challenge for political leaders and civil
society alike. It could be said
that the success of the Community immigration policy will depend on the extent
to which migrants become integrated into their host country. Failure to develop an inclusive and
tolerant society which enables different ethnic minorities to live in harmony
with the local population of which they form a part leads to discrimination,
social exclusion and the rise of racism and xenophobia.
The
development of appropriate integration strategies is the responsibility of
Member States with authorities and other actors at the local, and municipal
level having a very important role to play.
As
the proportion of non-nationals in the population of Member States develops and
with the prospect of further increases, co-ordinated and sustained efforts to
ensure the social integration of migrants are more than ever necessary.
They will have to complement national actions within the
framework of the Employment guidelines and be in accordance with the objectives
endorsed by the Nice European Council as regards social inclusion. Appropriate measures will therefore be
required to meet the needs of ethnic minorities and migrant workers as regards
their integration into the labour market and national targets will be set where
appropriate for this purpose (Employment guideline 7). Member States will also promote the social
integration of women and men at risk of facing persistent poverty because they
belong to a group experiencing particular integration problems (Nice
objective).
Guideline
6: Ensuring the development of integration policies for fair treatment of third country nationals residing legally on the
territories of the Member States in particular by:
Identifying
priorities and resources for developing a comprehensive policy to ensure
Setting
up a framework to ensure the involvement of local and regional actors, the
social partners, civil society and migrants themselves in developing and
implementing the national strategy.
Promoting
the integration of migrants through information and awareness campaigns in
co-operation with all those concerned.
Developing
specific measures aimed at the social and economic integration of women and
second generation migrants.
Developing
settlement programmes for new migrants and their families including the
provision of appropriate language training and information on the cultural,
political and social characteristics of the country concerned including the
nature of citizenship and of the fundamental European values.
Developing
measures to provide social, health and economic support to victims of smuggling
and/or trafficking during their stay on the territory of the EU.
Exploring
the validity of the concept of civic citizenship by identifying the rights and
responsibilities, which would ensure the fair treatment of third country
nationals legally resident in the Member State concerned.
INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS
National Action Plans
In
order to implement each set of guidelines on immigration, Member States should
prepare national action plans which will be reviewed and adapted on an annual
basis. These would be in two parts
so as to provide both an overview of results of the actions carried out in the
previous year in relation to the European guidelines as well as proposals for
the implementation of the migration guidelines in the year to come.
In
the review section, the National Action Plans would provide statistics on the
numbers and situation of third country nationals admitted in the previous year
by category including relevant information provided in the National Action
Plans on employment. This section would include comments on the co-operation
achieved between national, regional and local authorities, the social partners,
non-governmental organisations and migrants themselves and on the effectiveness
of their participation in the planning and implementation of migration policy.
There would also be information on the interaction between the different
measures taken and between legal and illegal flows. Information would be given
on resources used and attention would be drawn to interesting experiences and
good practice which had been identified as well as to problems which had been
encountered, in particular where it was felt that solutions should be sought at
European level. This part of the
report would also include information on the implementation of relevant
Community directives, how they had been translated into national legislation
and a review of the effects of this legislation in the national situation.
In
the second section of their plans, Member States would describe the action they
propose to take at national, local and regional level as appropriate, for
implementing the guidelines for the year concerned, indicating their national
objectives for each one and the time-frame proposed. They would include, when relevant, reference to their
projections of labour demand for migrants as set out in their National Action
Plans for employment.
The
Action Plans will provide the basis of an overall evaluation of the
implementation of the common policy and the results obtained and an input into
the way in which the guidelines should be developed to reflect changing
needs. On the basis of these
reports the Commission will prepare a synthesis report drawing attention to
common problems and identifying areas where European solutions might be
appropriate. The preparation of
this report will be co-ordinated with the corresponding reports on employment
and social inclusion.
Developing and evaluating the Community
Immigration Policy
The
Commission will play an active role in supporting and developing the common
migration policy notably with respect to the presentation of Community
legislation which is necessary, preparing proposals for the European guidelines
and for promoting co-operation, exchange of best practice, evaluation and
monitoring. To this end the Commission will consult widely - by making appropriate arrangements
including the setting up of committees and working groups - with senior
officials, experts in immigration matters from the Member States,
representatives of the social partners and of local and regional authorities,
experts on particular topics under review and with other representatives of
civil society.
It is important to ensure that condidate countries are informed about this process and are involved at the earliest possible stage in the open co-ordination method before accession, through appropriate arrangements. This will provide a useful preparation for accession by allowing the candidate countries to become familiar with the Community’s policies and working methods. This will imply that condidate countries will be involved in the process, in particular by participating in the committees or working groups which will be set up.
The activities of the Commission will include:
Monitoring
the practical application of legislation in the field, notably wit h a view to
ensuring consistency between Member States;
Making
proposals for new legislative initiatives as necessary to implement the common
policy;
Promoting
the exchange of information, experience and good practice between Member
States;
Preparing
the European guidelines to be adopted by the Council;
Monitoring
and evaluating the implementation of the guidelines, including by means of a
synthesis report for submission to the Council based on an analysis of the
national reports, and including recommendations for the future development of
the common immigration policy, including the revision of the guidelines.
Examining
the possibility and the suitability of reforming and extending the EURES
network to provide information on job opportunities and living and working
conditions for third country nationals seeking work in the EU.
Integrating
migration issues into relationships with third countries in particular when
developing the country strategies (country strategy papers or others).
In
doing so the Commission will ensure that migration policy is complementary and
consistent Migration policy should also promote
equality between men and women in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty. On
the external side consistency will be maintained with EU external relations and
development policies. The
Commission will work, therefore, as appropriate, in co-operation with other
bodies and committees dealing with relevant policy matters such as the
Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee.
Involvement of the European Institutions
In
view of the multi-dimensional aspects of migration policy, the European
Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
should be closely involved with the development and implementation of the
Community immigration policy. The
Commission will also present to the institutions the annual migration report
including the European immigration guidelines.
Further
consideration should be given, in consultation with the institutions
themselves, to the most effective ways in which they can be associated in the
co-ordination mechanism at the European level so that they can make their full
contribution.
Involvement
of civil society
The
active involvement of politicians, the social partners, and of regional and local actors
and other relevant organisations, such as non-governmental organisations and
associations of migrants as stakeholders and of the media, at both national and
European levels, is essential to the success of the policy and to the
achievement of the goals set out in the guidelines. Member States are invited to take the necessary steps to
ensure this at national level. The
Commission will put in place measures to establish a dialogue with civil
society at European level.
Supporting measures
The
Commission will play an important role in monitoring and evaluating the common
policy, in promoting co-operation both between the Member States and between
the different actors concerned and in identifying and encouraging the exchange
of best practice. This will be an
essential part of the process of developing a common approach and in
identifying the best standards and encouraging convergence of practice and
procedure. Administrative
co-operation will be facilitated through the proposed action programme in the
field of visas, asylum, immigration and other policies related to the free
movement of persons (the ARGO programme14), the successor to the Odysseus
programme.
The
Commission believes, however, that a broader programme is necessary to
facilitate the exchange of information and best practice among the wide range
of authorities and organisations involved, in particular with respect to the
integration of third country nationals, and to provide support for actions
designed to test and develop European objectives with respect to immigration
policy. It intends, therefore, as
indicated in its Communication on a Community immigration policy, to put
forward proposals for a specific Community Action Programme as a complement to
the Community Action Programmes to combat discrimination and to promote social
inclusion.
The
objective will be to support legislation and policy development within a
European framework through the improving of knowledge, the strengthening of the
capacity of all the actors
involved and the raising of awareness with respect to integration
strategies. There will be a focus
on a number of key areas and the programme will concentrate on the development
of a comprehensive approach and the mobilisation of all those concerned in the
implementation of the policy. It
will support in particular the evaluation of the effectiveness of policies,
legislation and practice and its dissemination, including the development of
benchmarks and indicators; aim to develop the capacity of specific actors
through the transnational exchange of information and support for European
actions; and raising awareness of opinion formers.
CONCLUSIONS
AND FOLLOW UP
With
this Communication the Commission is seeking to set out in more detail the
proposals on the implementation of a common policy in the migration field which
were sketched out in its Communication on a Community Immigration Policy. In this way it wishes to provide a
practical contribution to the inter-institutional European Conference on
Migration which the Presidency
is organising on 16-17 October 2001.
Once the proposals for the co-ordination mechanism have been considered by the Council and, possibly, at the Laeken summit in December 2001, the first priority for the Commission will then be to review the suggestions, set out in section 4 above, for European Guidelines on Immigration and the outline for the contents of the National Action Plans (section 5.1 above) and to make proposals on these for adoption by the Council as soon as possible in 2002. Member States will then be invited to prepare their first National Action Plans for immigration.
1 SN 200/99 Presidency Conclusions of the Tampere European Council 15-16 October 1999
2 See biannual update COM(2001)278 final of 23 May 2001
3 COM(2000)624 amended version of 10 October 2000
4 COM(2001)386 “Conditions of entry and residence of third country nationals for the purpose of paid employment and self employed economic activities”
5 Directive 2000/43, OJ L 180 of 19.7.2000, and Directive 2000/78, OJ L 303 of 2.12.2000
6 COM(2001)127
7 Directive 2001/40, OJ L 149 of 2.6.2001
8 OJ C 269 of 20.9.2000 p.8
9 OJ C 253 of 4.9.2000 p.6
10 COM(2001)331 of 20.6.2001
11 SEC (2001) 602
13 COM(2001)386
“Conditions of entry and residence of third country nationals for the
purpose of paid employment and self employed economic activities”
14 COM(2001)386 “Conditions of entry and residence of third country nationals for the purpose of paid employment and self employed economic activities”
15 As an example
in the Commission’s proposal for a new Framework Programme
(COM(2001)…), the proposed Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship
Scheme which aims to attract researchers from third countries, will include, in
the case of emerging economies and developing countries, provision to assist
fellows to return to their country of origin.
14 COM(2001)… “A proposal for a Council Decision
adopting an Action Programme for Administrative Cooperation in the fields of
visas, asylum, immigration and other policies related to the free movement of
persons (ARGO)”